U.S. must be ready to act quickly on Libya: Obama

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday the United States and international community must be ready to act rapidly if warranted by a humanitarian crisis or to stop violence against civilians in Libya.

Obama, in remarks at a news conference with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, said that his administration was preparing a full range of options over Libya in order to avoid his choices from being "hamstrung".

Obama suggested that if a situation existed where Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was "hunkered down" in his capital Tripoli, the United States might have to find a way to get food aid to Libyans.